King Charles III has been formally proclaimed as monarch following a meeting of the ancient Accession Council in St James’s Palace.
Watch the full ceremony here.
The King, his succession having been confirmed, gave a short speech on the grief of his family and the British family of nations over the end of his mother’s reign, “unequalled in its duration, its dedication, and its devotion.”
“I shall strive to follow the inspiring example I have been set in upholding constitutional government and to seek the peace, harmony, and prosperity of the peoples of these Islands and of the Commonwealth Realms and Territories throughout the world,” the King vowed.
“In this purpose, I know that I shall be upheld by the affection and loyalty of the peoples whose Sovereign I have been called upon to be, and that in the discharge of these duties I will be guided by the counsel of their elected parliaments,” he continued.
“And in carrying out the heavy task that has been laid upon me, and to which I now dedicate what remains to me of my life, I pray for the guidance and help of Almighty God,” he added.
King Charles also gave a formal oath concerning his constitutional duty relating to the security of the Church of Scotland — a tradition dating back to a time when the Scottish royal family had ascended to the English throne but not yet united the Scottish and English states.
“I, Charles the Third, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of My other Realms and Territories, King, Defender of the Faith, do faithfully promise and swear that I shall inviolably maintain and preserve the Settlement of the true Protestant Religion as established by the Laws made in Scotland in prosecution of the Claim of Right and particularly by an Act intituled ‘An Act for securing the Protestant Religion and Presbyterian Church Government’ and by the Acts passed in the Parliament of both Kingdoms for Union of the two Kingdoms, together with the Government, Worship, Discipline, Rights and Privileges of the Church of Scotland,” the King declared.
“So help me God.”
King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, during the Accession Council at St James’s Palace, London, on Sept. 10, 2022, where King Charles III is formally proclaimed monarch. (Victoria Jones/Pool Photo via AP)
King Charles III signs an oath to uphold the security of the Church in Scotland during the Accession Council at St James’s Palace, London, Sept. 10, 2022. (Victoria Jones/Pool Photo via AP)
William, the Prince of Wales, signs the oath to uphold the security of the Church in Scotland during the Accession Council at St James’s Palace, London, Sept. 10, 2022, where King Charles III is formally proclaimed monarch. (Victoria Jones/Pool Photo via AP)
Camilla, the Queen Consort, signs the Proclamation of Accession of King Charles III during the Accession Council ceremony at St James’s Palace, London, Sept. 10, 2022. (Kirsty O’Connor/Pool Photo via AP)
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, signs the Proclamation of Accession of King Charles III during the Accession Council ceremony at St. James’s Palace, London, Sept. 10, 2022, where King Charles III is formally proclaimed monarch. (Kirsty O’Connor/Pool Photo via AP)
Britain’s Prime Minister Liz Truss signs the Proclamation of Accession of King Charles III. (Kirsty O’Connor/Pool Photo via AP)
Mounted City of London police officers in ceremonial dress pass along the procession route ahead of a ceremonial procession for the Royal Proclamation at the Royal Exchange in the City of London as King Charles III is proclaimed King during the accession council on September 10, 2022, in London, United Kingdom. His Majesty The King is proclaimed at the Accession Council in the State Apartments of St James’s Palace, London. The Accession Council, attended by Privy Councillors, is divided into two parts. In part I, the Privy Council, without The King present, proclaims the Sovereign and part II where The King holds the first meeting of His Majesty’s Privy Council. The Accession Council is followed by the first public reading of the Principal Proclamation read from the balcony overlooking Friary Court at St James’s Palace. The Proclamation is read by the Garter King of Arms, accompanied by the Earl Marshal, other Officers of Arms and the Serjeants-at-Arms. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
A ceremonial procession makes its way to the Royal Exchange ahead of the Royal Proclamation for King Charles III on September 10, 2022, in London. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
Members of the public gather for the second Proclamation in the City of London, at the Royal Exchange, as King Charles III is proclaimed King on Sept. 10, 2022, in London. King Charles III was earlier proclaimed at the Accession Council in the State Apartments of St James’s Palace, London. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool)
(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool)
A view of a military piper during the reading of the Proclamation of Accession of King Charles III, at the Royal Exchange in the City of London on Sept. 10, 2022. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)
Officials and elected members of the City of London Corporation gather outside the Royal Exchange in the City of London on Sept. 10, 2022, for the reading of the Proclamation of Accession of King Charles III. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool)
Clarenceux King of Arms reads the Proclamation in the City of London at the Royal Exchange on September 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Officials and elected members of the City of London Corporation, doff their hats, during the reading of the Proclamation of Accession of King Charles III, at the Royal Exchange in the City of London, on Sept. 10, 2022. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)
Members of the Coldstream guards cheer as the Principal Proclamation is read from the balcony overlooking Friary Court at St James’s Palace as King Charles III is proclaimed King on September 10, 2022, in London. (Joe Giddens/Getty Images)
The Royal Salute is fired at Edinburgh Castle by 105th Regiment Royal Artillery, taking place to mark the Principal Proclamation of King Charles III, in Edinburgh, Scotland, on September 10, 2022. (ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)
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